Sensing, interlocking solar panel system and installation method

Abstract

A preassembled solar panel module includes a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power. Multiple panel rails are coupled in preassembly to a backside surface of the solar panel, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of the solar panel. Multiple snap connector components are each coupled to one of the at least two rails and are each configured to couple with a complimentary snap connector component of an adjacent preassembled solar panel module or of a wind deflector accessory, or both. One or more mounting feet are each coupled at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and are each configured for coupling at a selected location to a roof or to other sunlight receiving surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An array of two or more preassembled solar panel modules, each preassembled solar panel module comprising:
 a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power; 
 a plurality of panel rails coupled in preassembly to a backside surface of the solar panel, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of the solar panel; 
 a plurality of module connector components each coupled to one of the at least two rails and to a complimentary module connector component of an adjacent preassembled solar panel module or of a wind deflector accessory, or both; 
 one or more mounting feet each coupled both at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and at a selected location to a roof or to other sunlight receiving surface upon which said array is installed, and 
 wherein 0.42<H/G<15, where H is a height of a preassembled solar panel module measured as a spacing of said backside surface of said preassembled solar panel module from said roof or other sunlight receiving surface, and where G is a gap spacing between nearest edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules, and 
 wherein said mounting feet each include a slider and said at least two panel rails each include a flange that does not overlap the slider in a direction normal to the preassembled solar panel module when the slider is in an open position, thereby permitting receipt of a flange end of a panel rail within a rail receiving recess defined within each of said mounting feet, wherein said flange does overlap the slider in said direction normal to the preassembled solar panel module when the slider is slid to a closed position from said open position for securing the mounting feet to the at least two panel rails. 
 
     
     
       2. The array of  claim 1 , wherein 0.42<H/G<3. 
     
     
       3. The array of  claim 1 , wherein 0.42<H/G<1.5. 
     
     
       4. The array of  claim 1 , wherein 20 mm<G<120 mm. 
     
     
       5. The array of  claim 1 , wherein 50 mm<H<300 mm. 
     
     
       6. The array of  claim 1 , wherein H<75 mm and G>37.5 mm. 
     
     
       7. The array of  claim 1 , wherein H/G≈1. 
     
     
       8. The array of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of wind deflectors coupled to sides of preassembled solar panel modules that each define a peripheral segment of the array. 
     
     
       9. The array of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more short panel rails coupled to said backside surface of said preassembled solar panel module disposed halfway or more along opposing shortest edges of the solar panel between said at least two panel rails that are disposed at said opposing longest edges. 
     
     
       10. The array of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more short panel rails coupled to said backside surface of said preassembled solar panel module disposed halfway or more along short dimension segments spaced from either shortest edge of the solar panel between said at least two panel rails that are disposed at said opposing longest edges. 
     
     
       11. The array of  claim 1 , further comprising bumpers at corners of said preassembled solar panel modules that extend normally from said backside surface further than any of said plurality of panel rails. 
     
     
       12. The array of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two panel rails include outer facing walls with one or more features for coupling with one or more complimentary features of said mounting feet or of said snap connector components, or both, for preventing movement along said at least two panel rails of said mounting feet or of said snap connector components, or both. 
     
     
       13. The array of  claim 12 , wherein said one or more features comprise a series of notches or recesses or both. 
     
     
       14. The array of  claim 1 , wherein said solar panel comprises a frameless solar panel. 
     
     
       15. The array of  claim 1 , wherein said module connector components comprise snap connector components, and wherein adjacent solar panel modules are coupled together by coupling together complimentary snap connector components that are coupled one to each of two adjacent preassembled solar panel modules. 
     
     
       16. An array of two or more preassembled solar panel modules, each preassembled solar panel module comprising:
 a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power; 
 a plurality of panel rails coupled in preassembly to a backside surface of the solar panel, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of the solar panel; 
 a plurality of module connector components each coupled to one of the at least two rails and to a complimentary module connector component of an adjacent preassembled solar panel module or of a wind deflector accessory, or both; 
 one or more mounting feet each coupled both at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and at a selected location to a roof or to other sunlight receiving surface upon which said array is installed, and 
 one or more toggle anchors each comprising a rotatably-attached, elongated washer for piercing roof sheathing or other sunlight receiving surface material in a first position and rotating to a second position securing the toggle anchor after said piercing, and 
 wherein 0.42<H/G<15, where H is a height of a preassembled solar panel module measured as a spacing of said backside surface of said preassembled solar panel module from said roof or other sunlight receiving surface, and where G is a gap spacing between nearest edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules. 
 
     
     
       17. The array of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting feet include one or more pivoting features configured to provide relative movement between a pair of components to prevent or reduce strain or stress within the array. 
     
     
       18. The array of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting feet each include one or more pivoting features configured to provide relative movement of a preassembled solar panel module to prevent or reduce stress or strain from wind or snow loading or other factors by flexing about the one or more pivoting features. 
     
     
       19. The array of  claim 1 , wherein solar panel includes at least two overlapping surfaces that are configured to receive and convert solar radiation to generate electrical power. 
     
     
       20. The array of  claim 16 , wherein said mounting feet each include a slider and said at least two panel rails each include a flange that does not overlap the slider in a direction normal to the preassembled solar panel module when the slider is in an open position, thereby permitting receipt of a flange end of a panel rail within a rail receiving recess defined within each of said mounting feet, wherein said flange does overlap the slider in said direction normal to the preassembled solar panel module when the slider is slid to a closed position from said open position for securing the mounting feet to the at least two panel rails.